Community : All Content - Variax Guitars / Bass / Workbench

Re-open Firmware Corrupted on Variax500

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:06:37 GMT

Hi Line 6Miller!

I'm back. Sorry for the long absence but I'm in the middle and running late on a Christmas Album that has to be out at the end of this month and also, my internet line has been down (Thanks to a Thunderstorm) so I'm having a fight with Telkom to get it up and running again. In desperation I am actually doing this from an Internet Cafe. My Internet should be up again in the next few days and then we can resume normal communication. PS. My problem is still alive and kicking!

This is the last communication I had from you before the interruption and I would appreciate it if we can pick up from here.

>Hello,

>Having a friend in Canada certainly does help as we have a distributor in Canada (actually in Montreal).

>Before we go any further let me just make sure I have everything covered here.

>Is this Variax under warranty? You said you've had it for only a few weeks correct?

>You've tried reinstalling the flash memory in the guitar to no avail as it will not connect to Monkey at >all through your POD correct?

>Have you tried interfacing the guitar with something other than the POD IE: a Variax Workbench >Interface?

>Please let me know and then we can move forward with trying to get you the part you need.

>Line6Miller

My Answer:

Yes, the Variax is still under warranty as I only had it for a few weeks before it packed up.

Yes, I have tried reinstalling the flash memory in the guitar to no avail as it will not connect to Monkey at all through my POD and also freezes the POD when connecting to it via the rj45 connector.

No, I have not tried interfacing the guitar with another interface besides the POD as I don’t have accesss to any other interface but I successfully connected via the POD using another 500 and 600.

PS. Is it not possible to get the parts to me via Marshall Music/Active Music Distribution in Johannesburg, South Africa. I was given the impression that they are the Line6 distributers in South Africa?

Thanks for the support so far. It has been great and re-assuring

Regards, Carlo

Locking tuners for Variax 700 electric?

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:41:10 GMT

What are shims?

Gauge of strings for el. variax 700 to have more authentic acoustic sound

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:22:20 GMT

I would suggest going for the thicker strings, as thick as possible IMHO. If you are still finding it not sounding good enough to you, you could try acoustic steel strings. However, that would obviously compromise the electric guitar model tones...

Variax 700 will not stay in tune?

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:18:08 GMT

this might help.

RMA status 11487

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:06:01 GMT

UPDATE A FEW MONTHS LATER.....

I just had to update this post. Line6 did return my guitar, repaired, within about two weeks (including coast to coast travel time).

Now that the guitar is working, I LOVE IT. I play it exclusively in a classic rock band (rythm guitar), as a solo singer/songwriter, and an acoustic duo. No troubles, just great fun and playability, and AWESOME sounds.

I have found the presets to be amazingly useful:

Square neck - (Honky Tonk Women, Jenny Jenny, Crossroads)
12 string (Behind Blue Eyes, Nights in white Satin)
Mandolin (Losing my religion), 12 string (Behind Blue Eyes, Nights in white Satin)
Dreadnaught, C&W - general purpose 6 string
Nylon (Something, Sweet Baby James)

I also find the neck to be pleasing, and I can play for hours without the discomfort I find on my Martin. Stays in tune. It's an attractive, well made guitar. Nothing not to love.

Just wish it had a built in tuner. And rechargable batteries.

THANKS LINE 6!

Variax Workbench fails at startup

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:57:18 GMT

Speaking of which, I should have seen your reply in this thread before starting another question of mine of the same problem. My bad. At least I've found the solution...

Variax Workbench installation problem...

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:12:46 GMT

Nevermind guys, I've found the solution. I went on the Java site, and installed the 1.50 version. Had Java 6 installed before, needed the previous version. Thanks again...

Split Bridge

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:37:04 GMT

im assuming this is an acoustic since you mentioned the pins now do you mean the wood part of the bridge has split or the saddle ?

. it is glued to the top of the guitar and youll have to warm it up with a heat gun to loosen the glue. that one has the lrbaggs pickups in it you have to be careful not to break the wires. if its playing ok and isnt a problem other than cosmeticly id leave it alone

Firmware Corrupted on Variax500?

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:45:32 GMT

Hi Line 6!

I'm back. Sorry for the long absence but I'm in the middle and running late on a Christmas Album that has to be out at the end of this month and also, my internet is down (Thanks to a Thunderstorm) so I'm having a fight with Telkom to get it up and running again. In desperation I am actually doing this from an Internet Cafe. My Internet should be up again in the next few days and then we can resume normal communication. PS. My problem is still alive and kicking!

Regards, Carlo

Workbench - Pot Resistance - help me learn

support@line6.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:29:56 GMT

capacitors will restrict high end tones. for example .047 gives a deeper(more bass) tone than .220.. another example is i recently changed capacitors in a les paul. it came throught with 220s sound was tinny specially on the bridge pickup. so i looked up gibson and epiphone specs. tihis is for soap bar p90s. it will be different on humbuckers p94s etc etc. they suggested .047 so i put them in. while getting a nice tone in the two pickup setting the individual pickups were too dark . ( so i ended up with 330s on both and the guitar sounds great). the same thing applys in workbench its trial and error with each type of pickup till you get the sound your looking for. general starting point i think would be .047 for fender or single coil .022 for gibson or humbuckers. pot resistance. you can use any pot resistance again its trial and error. some people use a combination. its manufacturer preference.. generally old style fender is 250k old style gibson is 500 k newer fender and gibson/ epiphone is 500k mini pots. different pickup sets come with mixed pots example i just installed fender noisless pickups in my strat . the set came with two 500k for tone and on3 1000 k for volume. i left the large 250ks i had in the guitar already in because they also affect tone and i wanted to achieve the sound of a 58 strat but not pickup all the ambient noise that single coils pickup. it worked well. the pickups as well have there own affect on sound you cant go by humbucker or single coil theres all kinds of windings some will have a set of 3 with the center pickup reverse wound to achieve a humbucking affect.

bottom line is trial and error. write down in a little notebook what changes you make and what you achieve from it .. then youll have a reference to refer to rather than relying on memory.

id suggest the two books in the attatched photos if you really want to learn not only what you asked but just about anything else. just the knowledge of how to do your own setups like the rpos is worth the price.

have fun